FIELD ASSEMBLY

What is Field Assembly according to ASME Code Section VIII Div. 1?

Imagine you have to manufacture and install a large size of ASME-stamped equipment, such as a distillation column for a refinery, a crude oil fired heater, a very large vessel, etc.

Its large size makes transporting the entire equipment from the manufacturing shop to the site where it will be permanently installed an impossible, impractical, or expensive task.

To solve this problem, the equipment manufacturer, who holds a valid ASME Certificate of Authorization, can manufacture the equipment in parts, which can be more easily transported.

Once these parts have arrived at the site where they will be installed, they must be assembled by welding by a shop holding the corresponding valid ASME Certificate of Authorization, so that the complete equipment can be stamped and certified.

Now, this field assembly can be performed by the equipment manufacturer itself. In this case, it performs the remaining work on-site, stamps, and certifies the complete equipment.

Similarly, this field assembly can be performed by another shop holding a valid ASME Certificate of Authorization, other than the equipment manufacturer. In this case, the equipment manufacturer sends the parts to the site, stamped and certified as ASME parts, and the shop that performs the field assembly stamps and certifies the complete equipment.

Alternatively, another shop holding a valid ASME Certificate of Authorization, other than the equipment manufacturer, can be requested to perform the on-site assembly work, certify and stamp its scope as an ASME “U-Part”, and the equipment manufacturer itself can certify and stamp the complete equipment.

In any case, the shop holding the valid ASME Certificate of Authorization that completes and certifies the Manufacturer's Data Report (MDR) for the complete equipment on-site assumes full responsibility for it as established in the ASME Code.

In brief, this welding assembly activity performed on-site by a workshop holding a valid ASME Certificate of Authorization is known as FIELD ASSEMBLY.

This methodology allows compliance with the ASME Code requirements for any equipment that, for some reason, needs to be manufactured in parts; it also allows multiple ASME Certificate of Authorization holders from anywhere in the world to participate in the design and manufacture of the same equipment.

What is Field Assembly according to ASME Code Section I?

A water tube boiler is generally large in size, making it difficult to transport it fully assembled from the manufacturer's facilities to the installation site.

Given this, the boiler is manufactured in parts by the Manufacturer, which are then shipped to the site for subsequent assembly.

ASME Code Section I defines the boiler parts that fall under its scope. Additionally, it defines the boiler external piping (BEP), which shall be designed, manufactured, examined, and tested according to the ASME B31.1 Power Piping Code.

Both the boiler and its external piping (BEP) must be stamped and certified according to ASME Code Section I.

Then, once the parts have arrived at the installation site, field assembly can be performed by the boiler Manufacturer. In this case, they perform the remaining work on-site, including hydrostatic testing, stamping, and certifying the Master Data Report for the complete boiler.

Likewise, this field assembly can be performed jointly by the boiler Manufacturer and an Assembler, who is a separate organization from the boiler Manufacturer.

The Assembler shall hold a valid Certificate of Authorization for the use of the ASME certification mark with the "S" designation for boiler fabrication and assembly or "A" for boiler assembly.

The boiler Manufacturer must ship the stamped and certified "S" parts, along with their partial data reports, to the installation site.

Similarly, the boiler Manufacturer may ship the stamped and certified "S" boiler external piping (BEP), along with their respective partial data reports, to the installation site, or it may be manufactured by another manufacturer, provided they have a valid Certificate of Authorization for the use of the ASME certification Mark with the "S" or "PP" designator.

All parts are assembled by the Assembler using its own welding procedures (WPS) and qualified welders.

Once the Assembler completes the field assembly activities, including hydrostatic testing, the boiler Manufacturer stamps the complete boiler, which is supplemented by the assembler's stamp.

Likewise, the Manufacturer certifies the Master Data Report together with the Assembler, who certifies the field assembly portion.

What can we offer you?

• Assembly and installation of static equipment such as water tube boilers, heat recovery steam generators (HRSG), process towers, fired heaters, and other large static equipment.
• Field Assembly according to the ASME Code.

What quality system do we use?

We use an ASME-evaluated and approved quality system specifically for the design, manufacture, and field assembly of power boilers and pressure vessels.

We have the Certificate of Authorization for the use of the ASME certification mark and its "U" designator for pressure vessels. Also we have the Certificate of Authorization for the use of the ASME certification mark and its "S" designator for power boilers.

How can you contract our services?

Simply send us your information and a message below with your requirements. We will contact you within the next few hours to analyze your case and see if we can help you.